Sunday, September 1, 2013

Petit Is Grand

Starting pitcher:
M.C. O'Connor

The Giants find their way today and beat up on the Diamondbacks 8-2. Patrick Corbin has seen his fortunes change in the last two starts, giving up 14 runs in 10 innings after a complete game win at Cincinnati two weeks ago. The young Arizona lefty is having a great season but might be hitting a wall as he approaches 200 innings. The Giants had a big day, rapping out 15 hits with a new-look September lineup. Yusmeiro Petit had a career-high 10 strikeouts, and is making a pitch for a spot in the rotation. Chad Gaudin is going to have some competition, and that has to be a good thing for 2014. Fifth starters don't have to be very good, and if they are close to league-average, or at least better than most team's fifth starters, they can be valuable pieces.

The Giants need to start stockpiling pitchers as there is a new arms race in the West. The Dodgers have the best pitcher in baseball (Clayton Kershaw) and a healthy number two (Zack Greinke) who would be the ace on most clubs. A resurgent Ricky Nolasco (I guess you were right about him, Ron!) has put together perhaps his best stretch ever, and MLB-rookie Hyun-jin Ryu gives them another formidable southpaw. I note that even with Chris Capuano holding down the 5-spot, they still picked up Edinson Volquez as insurance. And they still have two veterans on the DL who will likely be back next season, Josh Beckett and Chad Billingsley. The LA team has been dubbed "The West Coast Yankees" for their otherworldly payroll, and this season their depth has certainly paid off. They are winning at an historic pace since their early-season woes. It will be interesting to see how the Giants will try to match up with the new front-runners in the off-season.

Believe it or not, Barry Zito is listed as the starter for tomorrow's game in San Diego.